Business schools in Europe that develop future-ready leaders

At the age of 11, Moziah Bridges took the “Shark Tank” stage and presented his selection of handmade bow ties.

While showcasing his talents on the famous US television show, he spoke about his love for fashion, and how his grandmother, a retired seamstress, taught him how to sew and cut fabric.

Impressed by the young man’s innovative ambition, Shark Tank investor Daymond John agreed to mentor Bridges for free.

And thanks to John’s belief in his designs and ambition, Bridges now owns a bow tie empire named “Mo’s Bows”.

Bridges represent the entrepreneurial zeal present in today’s youth. Surveys show young people are looking to become savvy business leaders, be it by launching their own start-ups or making a difference in the world through the organisations they join.

According to the Online Schools Center research, “Doing it their way: Gen Z and Entrepreneurship,” nearly half of Gen Z-ers plan to become entrepreneurs, with 41% stating that they plan to start their own businesses and 45% stating that they will invent something world-changing.

Yet, in the “The New Leadership Playbook for the Digital Age: Reimagining What It Takes to Lead” by MIT Sloan Management Review, a survey of 4,394 global executives from over 120 countries found that the world of business is lacking forward-thinkers.

As the MIT research outlined, only 12% of respondents strongly agree their own business leaders have the right mindsets to lead them forward, and only 9% agree that their organisation has the skills at the top to thrive in the digital economy.

What does it take to fill this gap? How do you become a successful entrepreneur in 2020 and beyond? Here are four business schools in Europe that will steer you to the right answers to these questions:

IE BUSINESS SCHOOL, IE UNIVERSITY – SPAIN

At IE University in Spain, you’ll find a business school for the future.

This year, the IE Business School ranked first place in the QS World University Rankings: Online MBA 2020 and in the top ten among European business schools in the latest Financial Times (FT) rankings.

With its liquid learning approach, business education here is always one step ahead.

Flexible, transformative, and interactive — it’s an educational experience that adapts to the personal needs and professional aspirations of each student.

Unlike the conventional blended learning approach at other business schools, liquid learning at IE takes personalized learning further.

The Virtual Reality (VR) Audience Simulator lets students, faculty, and staff hone their public speaking skills in front of a virtual audience. Over at the “WOW Room,” students get to collaborate and interact in a user-friendly environment for online classes and workshops.

On-campus, learning areas are being prepared in line with social distancing and safety protocols — a robot will ensure facilities are frequently cleaned, and there will be heat readers at all entries and exits.

Ultimately, IE University is a liquid learning organization that’s ahead of its time.

Hence why students from across the world enroll in the IE Business School and experience a transformational educational journey that takes their digital and entrepreneurial skills to the industry forefront.

Click here to find out more.

LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (LSE) – UK

The London School of Economics (LSE) prepares students to take on world-changing roles.

Its rigorous business education is designed to stretch students intellectually through more than 200 specialist undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, executive education and distance learning courses.

The School is committed to building a vibrant, equitable and truly inclusive environment in which staff and students from all over the world come together.

LSE has grown from 200 students in 1895 to around 11,000 students and 3,000 staff today.  This includes 18 Nobel Prize winners, as well as numerous world leaders, among its staff and alumni.

In 2020, LSE extended its global outreach by becoming the eighth full member of CIVICA (The European University of Social Sciences), and continues to do so through strategic partnerships with universities spanning across Europe, Africa, America and Asia.

If you’re planning to join one of the most interconnected business schools in Europe, LSE is the place to be.

EDHEC BUSINESS SCHOOL – FRANCE 

EDHEC Business School in France has a long-standing commitment to a culture that fosters creativity, risk-taking, leadership and the entrepreneurial spirit.

EDHEC is one of many business schools in Europe that stands by a learning-by-doing approach throughout its programmes. By intertwining this practical style to its teaching, EDHEC students get to tackle global business challenges early on in their career.

Every student learns from modern and multicultural campuses where over 100 nationalities are represented and work together, exchanging viewpoints and practices.

EDHEC also offers an online platform for tech-driven business students to use while working full-time roles or from their home country.

And by supplying both offline and online degree programmes that meet high academic standards, EDHEC successfully attracts a global following of agile thinkers and future leaders.

STOCKHOLM SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS (SSE) – SWEDEN

According to the latest Financial Times (FT) rankings, Stockholm School of Economics is one of the top business schools in Europe. It is accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) since 1999, which means that education and research here have demonstrated excellence at an international level.

Further complementing this top-ranked academic experience at SSE is the student exchange programme. This initiative helps expand global perspectives and connects students to industry leaders and fellow business students from all over the world.

For business students specifically, they can begin their entrepreneurial journey at the SSE Business Lab, an incubator that supports students in their business ventures.

As the school prioritises sustainable business, all SSE students also get to gain the know-how on what responsible leadership is all about. SSE became a signatory to the United Nations’ “Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME)” in 2013 and is now involved in  implementing six principles of responsible management education.

*Some of the institutions featured on this article are commercial partners of Study International

Liked this? Then you’ll love…

University of Exeter: A sustainable business school for the future

ISEG Lisbon: Start your future with a world-leading business school